I’ve got quite a lot of rice and beans saved up, and some canned goods and I’m a mechanic by trade, 2nd least likely to die in an Apocalypse scenario, 1st being Doctors, of course.
I’m rural and have running water just a short walk from the property if the well stops pumping and I’ve got an old revolver with a few rounds in case I feel like checking-out early.
You guys?
I don’t have much to add except this highly relevant post made by Dee Xtrovert in 2009 on MetaFilter about their experience in the siege of Sarajevo:
Well, unlike the majority of you (I assume), I actually lived several years in a period of savagery and killing, during which nothing - food, water, electricity, phone, clothing, sense of safety, school, the ability to go out in public, etc - was available, except during totally unpredictable, brief and sporadic occasions.
Of those who couldn’t leave my city, Sarajevo:
Some people (very few) were prepared for what they thought would be the “long haul” - this tended to be a couple of months. These people were widely seen as lunatics and dangerously pessimistic ones at that.
Most people were not at all prepared. This included my family. Many of those - like my family - considered the idea of “preparation” to be an affront to the decency we felt most people possessed. Were we wrong? Well, I don’t know. We suffered greatly; my parents were killed. But speaking only for myself, I never felt I cheapened my soul by betting on calamity. Today, that still feels like it’s worth something.
But here’s the main point: “Preparing” for the disaster really didn’t do anyone much good. Those who “prepared” ate a little better for a while. They stayed warmer for a few extra days. They enjoyed the radio for a while longer (via batteries.) But in the end, they ended up hungry, cold and bored too, just like the rest of us. Guns and weapons helped no one directly and were even of little to no use in the defense of Sarajevo, since they were toys compared to the shells, bombs and high-powered armaments of the attacking forces. The worst parts of war were psychological - the fear, anxiety, boredom, loneliness, paranoia, bad dreams. Respite from those things came with sharing food with a neighbor, finding a piece of clothing that would fit someone you knew, commiserating with others in your position, figuring out how to make make-up from brick or french fries from wheat paste and spreading this newly-acquired war knowledge around the mahala.
We knew who had extra food and supplies. For the most part, they weren’t attacked or hassled or bothered. Contrary to what these survivalists say, those in dire times generally hold on to their personal sense of pride even more than they do in normal times. I’d take a bite of a friend’s salad without bothering to ask in normal times. I’d never have done that in wartime, no matter how hungry I was.
Within the domain of those trapped in the city, civility greatly increased.
You often hear how Holocaust survivors felt guilt at surviving. Well, during war, that was a feeling everyone was aware of - people started dying right away (my parents were killed near the start of the siege, for instance) - and there was a palpable enough common sense of karma to make everyone into good Samaritans. None of us understood why we survived while others didn’t. I shared food when I had it, even though I often knew I wouldn’t have a crumb the next day. Which was no big achievement, because nearly everyone did the same.
Those who’d prepared, well, the majority of them shared their food and whatever else they had as soon as someone else was clearly in need. I can’t swear it, but I think they felt a little foolish to have been so self-obsessed, and giving away that stuff might have lessened that feeling. There were a few people who hoarded things until they ran out of stuff - eventually everybody ran out of anything worth hoarding - and they soon became wishful beggars like the rest of us. Again, I can’t swear it, but I hear stories, and it seems that these people suffer from post-war trauma, guilt and nightmares more than the rest of us.
Those survivalists, I feel sorry for them. It’s no way to live.
Added emphasis is mine. I’ve had this bookmarked for about a decade or more now.
In short, stop stocking up, start building community. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This right here. It is almost impossible for the average citizen to prepare in the sense of stocking up on supplies in a way that will last longer than a few weeks, months at best.
Without community… you are fucked. You may well be fucked even with community.
Meh, agreed and disagreed. A few 50lb. bags of corn and rice go a long way. A 5lb. bag of potatoes can go forever. Well, corn too I guess.
But the main catch is that you have to have land to grow it on. My wife and I are tiny and our yard is pretty big, but I doubt we could feed ourselves off it. We’re fortunate to have a couple of acres of part swamp, put “uplands” in Florida. It would be a daily chore to boil and process water though.
Here’s something survivalists haven’t clued in on. They figure .22 rifle and 20-gauge shotgun can get all the small game they like. Add in an AR-15, or better yet, a real hunting rifle, and game like deer seems abundant.
I spend more time in the wilds than any 20 random lemmings put together. There ain’t that much game to be had folks, and what little there is would be 100% wiped within a week of locals facing food shortages, let alone starvation. Yes, even the coyotes would be food, not a single water moccasin would survive. We’d be straining the swamp water for minnows.
Since I was born we’ve lost 74% of the animals on this planet. I’ve seen it, lived it. The best prepared are going vegan in a fucking hurry.
and game like deer seems abundant.
it even may be, when game isn’t the primary source of protein - but once it becomes so, the fields will be empty.
This was an interesting read, thank you for sharing. I’m not sure that I find the advice completely applicable to the threats I perceive though. She is describing a situation of open warfare and siege. Our family has tried to prepare a bit for upcoming unrest but I don’t think we foresee it as open siege on a city. In the USA, military might is so advanced that I think any sort of siege/operation is likely to be catastrophic and quick.
The scenario I think is more likely is a more extreme version of the mass supply chain disruptions we experienced during Covid. Longer periods where multiple items just aren’t available. In such a situation it would be good to have extra rice and beans on hand to get you through gaps in availability. Also feel like I should mention that you can get a cheap bidet that you can install yourself from hardware stores for like $100 USD - in case toilet paper disappears again.
Hoarding and not sharing is the real shame in times of need.
There is nothing wrong in with being prepared for any contingency; especially when you feel you can see it coming. Even if the extra food, batteries, or water only lasts for a short time, that’s a short time you didn’t have to worry about those things. When you can extend someone else’s peace of mind, even just a bit, then all the more better.
It is a tragedy that it takes such travesty for people to be human with each other.
That was a good read, thank you. :)
That’s an incredible post. Thank you for sharing it!
Eating cheetos playing video games and masturbating
Yellow powder, everywhere…
Not preparing at all, just living my life like normal. When things get really bad here I’ll sell my car and move to Europe with my girlfriend (I have dual citizenship and can sponsor her).
Welder/machinist > mechanic
I shall remember your valiant efforts to survive the purge and curse your kind for losing every last 10mm socket.
I’m stockpiling 10mm sockets. I shall rule in the wastelands.
I made several large purchases right after the election knowing that tariffs were on the way (new brakes for my car, new PC, new AC units for 2 rooms in the house). I stocked up on pandemic supplies (masks, toilet paper, cleaning products). I stocked up on bread and AP flour (I’m always baking something anyway, so this isn’t anything out of the ordinary) and froze it. Stocked up on shelf-stable foods for me and my partner, and cat food/litter for our cats (many pet food items are imported to the US). We have a generator and water treatment kits that we can use with the running water on our property. I did all of this slowly, from November up until now. I am not one of those crazy selfish people that goes into COSTCO and buys the entire shelf of toilet paper for myself.
I’ve had a “go bag” for at least 10 years, so that’s always been ready. My partner and I have written up several “what if” scenarios and how we would respond to them (flee the state, or flee the country, what are we bringing with us, etc). We both have current passports. I’m taking a firearms course next month so that I can legally own a gun.
Some people might think all of this is overkill or that we’re being paranoid, but we really don’t give a shit. If it comes down to it, we can literally walk away from this house or lock it down and defend it depending on the situation, and if that makes me sleep better at night, I don’t care what anyone thinks.
Crying?
I’m just gonna kill myself
Yep, who wants to survive teotwawki
I got out permanently. You should too if you have the chance. Other countries don’t wrench your guts every time you see the news.
All of you idiots who haven’t started their EU paperwork. Start it tomorrow, or don’t at all.
All of you idiots who haven’t started their EU paperwork
I don’t think it’s right to say that staying and fighting back is idiotic. Protecting what’s yours is a core to American ideology
Most people can’t afford to. Myself included.
Trying to get my retirement money moved to foreign assets and currency. Ideally I want it to out of reach of the US government so that if I do somehow make it out of the other side alive I’ll still have access to it. I believe the ideal way would be to create an offshore LLC and create a self directed IRA that I then move my retirement money to. I have no idea how tenable this is though.
Aren’t IRAs a US tax account? Like the Canadian TFSA.
They are, but like I said it’s possible to create a self directed one. Essentially I’m wanting to hedge my bets. On the small chance that things don’t go to complete shit I would like what I do to be above board and legal under the (somewhat) sane® laws and regulations so I don’t get nailed by the IRS. Doing what I mentioned would essentially put the money out of reach of the US government if they decided to start seizing assets or if I were arrested, but still legal if things don’t go south.
It’s not an insignificant amount of money, but it’s also not enough to have a dedicated firm or person to manage all of this (if it were I’d probably be safe in this oligarchy hell scape).
I can only wish you good luck.
Thanks. I’d say it was a good run, but I don’t like lying.
9mm
I just bought 20 pound bags of bread flour, sugar, and all purpose flour. Plus what I have in my chest freezers I’m good for a few months…
Not joking
Be sure to keep the flour as cold and dry as possible. Refrigerate or freeze if possible. You can sift out grain beetles and larva, but they’re very allergenic and the more exposure you get to them the higher the chance you’ll develop a severe allergy.
Not sure if you have a typo, You said I can sift out the beetles , but you say by doing so I can wind up with an allergy?
Yes, even if sifted out they leave behind particles of their body and feces that have allergenic proteins
My allergy to grain beetles went from bad to dangerous while I was working at an industrial bakery, so I’m on a crusade to tell everyone about this little known hazard lol
Why not just leave the beetles in, if it still harms me? If it comes to that, I’m going to be tired and cutting corners.
that’s increasing the amount of allergenic proteins but it is more protein overall lol
Looking into purchasing a firearm. Too many stupids in this country. Have to protect myself.
Just in case, if you’re unfamiliar with firearms most community colleges offer firearm safety courses for cheap or free.
Are they acreditted for things like CCW? I haveine, just curious.
In my state you get a CCW just by walking into the courthouse, no classes needed, so I’m not sure how it works elsewhere.
Used to be like that in VA, with just an online course. Pretty pathetic to be honest. At least now they have a class
I’m betting on Oregon not completely shitting the bed
Not American but from EU, have a 3 day survival box with water and food.
There is a real chance Russia at some point attacks, I don’t think they will drop a nuke any time. But they might try to sabotage the electricity network or financial system. So if a large (cyber) attack happens my family has enough for 3 days, a week if we have to.
